BILL NUMBER: AB 1259	CHAPTERED  10/10/99

	CHAPTER   705
	FILED WITH SECRETARY OF STATE   OCTOBER 10, 1999
	APPROVED BY GOVERNOR   OCTOBER 6, 1999
	PASSED THE ASSEMBLY   SEPTEMBER 1, 1999
	PASSED THE SENATE   AUGUST 30, 1999
	AMENDED IN SENATE   AUGUST 25, 1999
	AMENDED IN SENATE   AUGUST 16, 1999
	AMENDED IN SENATE   JULY 7, 1999
	AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY   MAY 24, 1999
	AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY   APRIL 27, 1999
	AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY   APRIL 15, 1999

INTRODUCED BY   Assembly Member Strom-Martin

                        FEBRUARY 26, 1999

   An act to add and repeal Chapter 12.991 (commencing with Section
18986.86) of Part 6 of Division 9 of the Welfare and Institutions
Code, relating to human services.


	LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST


   AB 1259, Strom-Martin.  Human services:  pilot program.
   Existing law provides for various health and social services for
eligible individuals.
   Existing law requires Placer County and Solano County, with the
assistance of the appropriate state departments, to implement a pilot
program in Placer County and Solano County, upon approval by that
county, for the funding and delivery of services and benefits through
an integrated and comprehensive county health and human services
system.
   This bill would, until January 1, 2005, authorize Humboldt County,
Mendocino County, and Alameda County to implement a similar program
for the funding and delivery of services and benefits through an
integrated and comprehensive county health and human services system
subject to certain limitations.


THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:


  SECTION 1.  Chapter 12.991 (commencing with Section 18986.86) is
added to Part 6 of Division 9 of the Welfare and Institutions Code,
to read:

      CHAPTER 12.991.  COUNTY INTEGRATED HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES
PROGRAM

   18986.86.  (a) Humboldt County, Mendocino County, and Alameda
County, with the assistance and participation of the appropriate
state departments, within the existing resources of those
departments, may implement a program, upon approval of each county
board of supervisors for the funding and delivery of services and
benefits through an integrated and comprehensive county health and
human services system.
   (b) The program may, in providing services through an integrated
system to families and individuals, among other things, do all of the
following:
   (1) Implement and evaluate a system of universal intake for those
seeking services.
   (2) Implement and evaluate a system whereby a family or individual
eligible for more than one service may be provided those services
through an integrated, coordinated service plan.
   (3) Implement and evaluate a system of administration that
integrates and coordinates the management and support of client
services.
   (4) Implement and evaluate a system of reporting and
accountability that provides for the combined provision of services
as provided for in paragraph (2), without the loss of state or
federal funds provided under current law.
   (5) In consultation with the appropriate state departments, as
designated by the Secretary of Health and Human Services, the county
or counties may develop specific goals in addition to those specified
in paragraphs (1) to (4), inclusive, to achieve an integrated and
comprehensive county health and human services system.
   (c) The integrated system may include any or all of the following:

   (1) Adoption services.
   (2) Child abuse prevention services.
   (3) Child welfare services.
   (4) Delinquency prevention services.
   (5) Drug and alcohol services.
   (6) Mental health services.
   (7) Eligibility determination.
   (8) Employment and training services.
   (9) Foster care services.
   (10) Health services.
   (11) Public health services.
   (12) Housing services.
   (13) Medically indigent program services.
   (d) (1) Part 2.6 (commencing with Section 56) of Division 1 of the
Civil Code shall apply to the programs or services providing
integrated services.
   (2) Before a program obtains an individual's medical information,
including mental health and drug treatment records, his or her
informed authorization shall be obtained, or the informed
authorization of his or her custodial parent, or his or her guardian
shall be obtained if the individual is a minor, unless the minor is
authorized to give consent.
   (3) Medical information shall not be disclosed to any individual
who is not authorized to have that information pursuant to the
authorization provided in paragraph (2).
   (4) Medical information shall not be disclosed for any purpose
that is not authorized by the authorization in paragraph (2).
   (5) The sharing of information permitted under paragraphs (2),
(3), and (4) shall be governed by memoranda of understanding among
the agencies represented on the team.  These memoranda shall specify
the types of information that may be shared without a signed release
form, and the process to be used to ensure that current
confidentiality requirements, as described in subdivision (d), are
met.
   (6) Any client shall have access to his or her medical information
and shall have the right to correct any inaccurate information
contained in the medical information.
   (e) Programs or services shall be included in the program only to
the extent that federal funding to either the state or the county
will not be reduced as a result of the inclusion of the services in
the project.  This program shall not generate any increased
expenditures from the General Fund.
   (f) Each participating county and the appropriate state
departments shall jointly seek federal approval of the program, as
may be needed to ensure its funding and allow for the integrated
provision of services.
   (g) This chapter shall not authorize each participating county to
discontinue meeting its obligations under current law to provide
services or to reduce its accountability for the provision of these
services.
   (h) This chapter shall not authorize each participating county to
reduce each participating county's eligibility under current law for
state funding for the services included in the program.
   (i) Each participating county shall utilize any and all state
general and county funds that it is legally allocated or entitled to
receive.  Through the creation of integrated health and social
services structures, the county shall maximize federal matching
funds.
   (j) The Secretary of Health and Human Services shall designate a
lead department to coordinate the state's participation in the county'
s program.
   (k) The appropriate state departments, as designated by the
Secretary of Health and Human Services, that are assisting,
participating, and cooperating in the implementation of the program
authorized by this chapter shall have the authority to waive
regulations regarding the method of providing services and the method
of reporting and accountability, as may be required to meet the
goals set forth in subdivision (b).  However, the departments shall
not waive regulations pertaining to privacy and confidentiality of
records, civil service merit systems, or collective bargaining.  The
departments shall not waive regulations if the waiver results in a
diminished amount or level of services or benefits to eligible
recipients as compared to the benefits and services that would have
been provided to recipients absent the waiver.
   18986.87.  (a) Each participating county shall, in consultation
with the appropriate state departments, as designated by the
Secretary of Health and Human Services, develop outcomes and
performance measures specific to the project prior to the
implementation of the pilot program.  Implementation of a pilot
program pursuant to this section shall occur not later than July 1,
2000.
   (b) Each participating county shall evaluate the program with the
participation of the appropriate state departments, as designated by
the Secretary of Health and Human Services, and prepare interim and
final evaluations and submit them to the Governor or the Governor's
designee and the appropriate policy committees of the Legislature.
The interim report shall be submitted not later than six months
following the third year of the implementation of the program.  The
final report shall be submitted not later than January 1, 2004.
   (c) Each participating county shall provide for the evaluation of
the program.
   18986.88.  This chapter shall remain in effect only until January
1, 2005, and as of that date is repealed, unless a later enacted
statute, that is enacted before January 1, 2005, deletes or extends
that date.
